Four vie for two Tama Council seats

November 3, 2013

A pair of at-large Tama City Council spots are on the Nov. 5 city election ballot.

Mike Carnahan, appointed to an unexpired term in 2012, Jarade Purk and Doug Ray are on the ballot and John Anderson is an announced write-in candidate.

Council member Robert Tyynismaa is not seeking reelection.

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The top vote-getters are elected in Tama - no majority vote is required.

Tama Council members serve four-year terms.

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, a week prior to election day, a total of 1,502 persons were registered to vote in Tama according to the office of Laura Kopsa, Tama County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections. However, Karen Rohrs, elections coordinator, cautioned the number can change as voters can continue to register through election day.

Toledo

In Toledo there's races for mayor and a pair of council seats. A total of 1,448 voters were registered city-wide in Toledo on Oct. 29 according to the Auditor-Commissioner of Elections Office.In Ward I - 515 were registered, Ward II - 443 and Ward III - 490.

In the contest for a two-year term for Toledo Mayor incumbent Dave Svoboda is opposed by Pam Wood. Wood was the incumbent two years ago when Svoboda came out on top in a three-way race in which Jared R. Zimmermann was also a candidate.

Incumbent Brian Sokol is being challenged by Carol Peterie and Curt Raue for an at-large council seat.

Travis Mullen, also an incumbent, faces Melissa Johnson, Jim Lyon and Larry Simpson in a contest for the Ward I council seat.

Joe Boll is unopposed for the Ward 2 council post and Terry Goodhart is also running unopposed for the Ward 3 seat.

Goodhart was elected Ward 2 council member in 2011, but his residence changed to Ward 3 due to reapportionment following release of the 2010 federal Census.

Candidates receiving the most votes win in Toledo, A majority is not required for election.

Elmer "Skip" Wilson is retiring from the council after serving three terms in the Ward 3 post.

Toledo voters will also decide whether to boost the current hotel-motel tax rate from five to seven percent and if a rural resident should serve on the Public Library Board.

Chelsea

Craig Forcht is seeking to move from city council to mayor in Chelsea. Incumbent Leif Morris is not seeking reelection.

Incumbents Dixie Forcht, Aaron Balvin, Steve VanDeWalle and Kurtis S. Kelley are joined by Juliana E. Vokoun to fill the five two-year council spots.

Registered to vote- 127.

Montour

No candidates have filed for three at-large seats in Montour. The four-year terms will be filled by write-in.

Registered to vote - 152.

Vining

There are no candidates on the ballot for the mayor/'s post or the five Vining council seats.

All are for two-year terms.

Registered to vote - 45.

Elberon

A write-in candidate will win the mayor's seat in Elberon. Seeking four-year council terms are Nancy Braasch and Faye Fisher. A third seat for a four-year term and a vacant two-year term will be filled by write-in vote.

Registered to vote - 111.

Clutier

In a race for Mayor of Clutier, Gordon Fassett faces Phillip Clark Breja. The post is a two-year term.

There will be four candidates on the ballot for five spots on the Clutier Council. Incumbent Linda Pearson is joined by Krista Walker, Barbara Baseman and Blake Pearson. A write-in will fill the fifth spot.

Registered to vote - 153.

Garwin

No candidate has filed nomination papers for mayor. As a result a write-in will be elected Garwin Mayor.

Two candidates are seeking the two four-year council terms in Garwin. They are Dean Brittenham and Matt DeSchamp.

Registered to vote - 333.

Gladbrook

Gladbrook Mayor Keith Sash is seeking reelection unopposed. Incumbents for three at-large council seats, Roger Luehring and Betty Dahms are seeking reelection and Ben Goos is also in the running.

Registered to vote - 652.

Traer

Mayor Pete Holden is unopposed for reelection to a two-year term in Traer. Craig Josh Yuel and Stephen Foster are seeking four-year council terms.

Registered to vote - 1,123.

Dysart

Three incumbents are seeking reelection and a fourth candidate is in the running for three, four-year city council terms in Dysart. Current council members Bret D. Hennessy, Tom W. Brandt and Tim Glenn are joined by Al C. Schafbuch in seeking seats.

Registered to vote - 882.

Lincoln

Incumbent council member Herbert Trent Wentzien is seeking the Lincoln mayor's post unopposed.

Council members seeking reelection to two-year terms are Michelle Clark, John Eilers and Vance Sebbert. Two council positions will be filed by write-in.